This isn't related to anything, but the combat happening in the adventure I'm running is going exactly how I hoped it would go - battling the rerising dead on a bridge being torn apart by a roaring river, four or five small, intense battles happening all over the map, PCs sacrificing themselves (and their actions) to keep the NPCs they are escorting safe, lucky criticals destroying hulking zombies in one hit... this is what 4e is all about!

Also, I've been damn impressed by the party's ability to hold off the undead raven swarms that they know are the worst threat (from a previous battle) - 2 swarms have gotten a total of one standard attack off in 2 turns. Hats off to the party in general (should any of you read this), and pacdidj and Mewness in particular for managing those raven swarms.

Regarding Iron Sky's bridge fight--I think the players are also being very good about sharing out the actions it takes to move the noncombatants around. And I laughed when the beast that I knocked into the drink on round 1 finally crawled back onto dry land

I think that there may enough characters around for a complete first level party as well as a second level party. There are also a few higher level characters hanging around the Tavern as well. It's looking pretty grim on the adventuring front.